An hour or so later I'm sitting in the infirmary waiting to be released. Only the nurse has been in to see me. I asked for no students to be let in so I could think about what just happened. An hour later I believe I'm currently still in a state of shock. I'm also surprised Mr Bowman hasn't been in to shout at me yet. I'm meant to be thinking of how I'm going to manage everything when I leave this room but I can't think properly. 

"Why would he punch him?" A voice asks. As I sneak a peak around the door I notice its Noah who is currently arguing with Levi.

"Why would you defend an idiot over your boyfriend?"

Wait so Noah blames me to? I thought he would take my side... Well that was a bit naive of me, wasn't it?

"He started a fight! How could I take his side?"

I decide to speak up for myself. In a cold monotone voice I ask, "So your boyfriend gets in a fight, which you didn't see with your own eyes, nor get the chance to ask said boyfriend about. So why assume I started the fight?"

"Raven..." Levi says surprised.

"Because Atlas told me it all and Will mentioned how Atlas said you didn't make him feel welcome in the club."

I walk over so I'm standing right in front of him, "It's hard to make someone feel welcome if all they do is insult you. For months I've been dealing with him preying on me and you want me to make him feel welcome? Forgive me for getting upset for once when someone whose been bugging me for once tells me that he's better for you than me! My intention was to get away from him. He pushed me against a wall then when that didn't work he pulled me by the shirt. Sue me for freaking out and punching the guy once while he full on beat me up!"

I'm aware that im crying at this point so I continue in a quiet voice, "But maybe he's right. Maybe he is better for you. After all, I threw the first punch."

I walk away ignoring Noah's shouts to come back. It's funny. Now rather than being extremely upset like I should be I feel calm. Very calm. 

Walking down the corridor towards the front of the school where dad and Issac are probably waiting I hear someone shouting. Peering around the corner I see that it's Camila and Atlas.

"Why would you beat him up? I know we had our disagreements but he was in the right, not me! Anyways, it wasn't your place to involve yourself like that!"

Just as he's about to respond he makes eye contact with me. He looks absolutely mortified. As Camila turns her head to see whats caught his attention I take the opportunity to leave, I've been in enough arguments today.

Or at least I was going to until I heard another voice joining the conversation, "Would you shut up?"

Sneakily peering around the corner - without being seen this time - I realise that the voice is Liam, haven't seen him in awhile.

"And why should I? He beat him up!"

"So?" Liam asks, "Raven's weak anyways, threw the first punch and didn't fight back."

I hear Atlas sigh, "I was in the wrong, there's no need for you two to fight over it."

"Oh we need too." Camila says, "This guy tells me that my friend started to spread rumours about me when in reality he forced Sammy to, he controls all that I do and acts like a complete jerk to top it all off! I'm done. Go manipulate some other girl."

The sound of heels gets quieter and quieter. A few minutes later I get the courage to peak around the corner. They had all left.

Going to the front of the school I see Mr Bowman talking to dad and Issac. That's why he didn't come up before.

"Raven." Mr Bowman sees me and I look down, I hear him walk past me before I feel his hand on my shoulder. I feel it tighten for a few seconds before he lets go and walks away.

"Let's go." Dad says, I don't need to look over to see that Issac is seething.

Getting into the car I look out the window as Issac drives.

"What possessed you to fight someone? Do you know how scared we were to receive that call-"

As he goes on I find myself zoning out. I just look out the window at the blurry trees and blurry sky. I watch as people go about their daily lives happily while I feel trapped. I thought I had everything under control, why did I-

Arms wrap around my shoulders. Dad pulls me to his chest and I realise that I'm crying again. The next thing I know I'm burying my head into my dads shoulder crying while hugging him. 

"You're ok. It's all gonna be ok."

We sit in silence for awhile after that until I break it, "How angry are you?"

"I was before but now I'm starting to think we've misread the situation like before."

"What?"

He chuckles softly and tightens his arms around me, "You know, the Camila thing. Where we thought you ignored her." Oh yea, I remember that now, "Want to tell me what happened?"

"Is Issac angry?" I avoid the question.

"I can't speak completely for him but when he stopped the car and looked at you he looked heartbroken."

I tighten my hold on dad for a moment before getting out of the car. Might as well get this bit over with.

Walking into the living room I see him sitting, head in his hands so I weakly ask, "How angry are you?"

When he looks at me I'm taken aback for a moment. Issac, the man who I'd known to never show emotion was currently crying on our couch. He stands and I look down preparing for his wrath when his arms circle around me protectively.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." He whispers.

I hug him back, "Why?"

"Because considering I've known you for almost seventeen years I should know you better. You didn't start that fight for no reason did you? Did you even start it?"

"I punched him." I mumble.

At that moment dad sets three hot chocolates on the table and pulls us onto the couch so that I'm between them both.

"How about you tell us what's been happening lately? It doesn't have to be about today if you don't want it to be."

"Uh... I've gotten a lot closer to Levi and Ryan."

"Ah yes, they joined the running club right?" Dad asks.

"Yup."

"Why those two in particular. What happened to the others?"

"They didn't know about Atlas' comments."

Issac looks at me and joins the conversation, "What comments?"

"That I'm pathetic... Amongst other things."

Dad puts his arm around my shoulders, "For how long?"

"Sometime before Christmas."

Issac throws his arm over the sofa behind us both, "Is this 'Atlas' person related to what happened today?"

"Yeah. He said things like normal which was fine-"

"Which was not fine." Dad interrupts.

"...Well he said Noah deserved better than me, someone like him-"

"More like Noah doesn't deserve someone as good as you." Dad says.

"Are you going to keep interrupting me?" I question with a small smile.

Dad grins, "Yes because this 'Atlas' kid is delusional."

Issac laughs, "Let him continue Ezra." He then looks at me to continue.

"Uh... It's kind of a blur though I remember feeling more upset than normal and I couldn't take it anymore so I ran. He came after me and pushed me against the wall."

"And then you punched him."

"No dad, I pushed him and began to walk away as I could feel myself getting angry."

"Just like I taught you." Issac says.

"Then he grabbed my shirt and pulled me back..." I trail off until I feel my dad rubbing my shoulder, "I freaked out and punched him. He then began punching me, I was so in shock that I attacked him that I let him. I couldn't bring myself to do it again."

Dad just brings me into his arms while Issac holds both of us, "We're sorry Raven, Issac and I should've seen the signs."

"Signs?"

"You were quieter than normal." Issac replies.

"Oh."

"What are you thinking now?" Dad asks.

I take another sip of the hot chocolate, "About how I'm going to move back to the UK and not go back to school."

Issac enquires, "Why don't you want to go back?" 

"Because there's too much to deal with."

Issac looks at me and says calmly, "Then take it one step at a time, you don't need to do everything at once."

"I suppose..."

"And the first thing you're going to do is watch a marvel movie with us!" Dad goes over to the remote and puts on Disney+. Relaxing into the couch I, for the first time today, forget about all the stress of the past few months.